Employees give Sask Apprenticeship high marks

To continue providing exceptional customer service, the employees of the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, or Sask Apprenticeship, need to enjoy their work and be committed to the organization’s goals, says chief executive officer Jeff Ritter. That’s why he was delighted by the latest results of the commission’s annual employee engagement survey.

“Our 2018 survey confirms we have very satisfied and engaged employees,” says Ritter. “Alignment with our vision, mission, mandate and direction is extraordinarily high — 91 per cent of employees agree with them. And 81 per cent say they look forward to coming to work every day and agree their managers allow them to be effective.”

These high scores came as no surprise to Desiree Morrison, executive administrative assistant to the chief operating officer. “This is a fabulous place to work,” she says. “It’s small, with a family feeling. I do love coming to work every morning.”

Sask Apprenticeship also surveys its customers — skilled trade apprentices and the employers who hire them — and they confirm the value of engaged employees. In the latest survey, more than 90 per cent of employers agreed the commission’s employees are friendly, courteous, helpful and knowledgeable, while the equivalent responses from apprentices were in the high 80s.

“We recognize our employees’ contributions every day,” Ritter says. “We want them to grow and succeed, so we support education that will help their careers.”

Morrison is benefiting from that support as she works towards a degree from Athabasca University, education she interrupted seven years ago to join Sask Apprenticeship as a client service representative. Since then she has moved up through three other positions to her current role.

She’s also an enthusiastic participant in several committees, including the employee engagement committee, which is “a way for people to bring forward concerns or questions that they’re reluctant to ask their managers about,” she explains. “We take them to senior management. We don’t meet as often as we used to because there’s less need, but the committee will continue.”

As well, Morrison is active on the social committee, which finds creative ways to raise funds for various charities, and the United Way Committee, and she volunteers to help with an annual award banquet recognizing the journeyperson in each trade who has earned the highest mark in the certification exams.

“Apprenticeship programs give young people the opportunity to have rewarding careers,” says Ritter. “Our staff love that they can help people change their lives.”

This story was produced by Mediacorp in partnership with Postmedia, on behalf of Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.